Hudson Valley Chalk Festival from July 18-20 in New Paltz

The Third Annual Hudson Valley Chalk Festival opens Friday, July 18, and runs through Sunday, July 20, at the Water Street Market, the open-air shopping village at 10 Main St., New Paltz.

Admission is free.

Twenty-one professional artists from around the country and 14 local artists will bring the 500-year-old tradition of street painting to the community at the only chalk festival in the Hudson Valley. This year’s festival will be raising awareness for street children through street art with the festival’s association with Arrive (www.arrivekenya.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of the most vulnerable children around the world.

Five professional artists will be chalking portraits of these children in Arrive’s program in Kenya. Volunteers from Arrive will be present at the festival to provide information on their organization.

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There will be live music throughout the weekend, with seven local musicians and bands performing. An open chalking area for anyone who wants to display their prowess with the chalk and the “Chalk Car” will be available for personal expression for children of all ages. Green Palatte will entertain and educate children about sustainability with multiple puppet shows daily.

Up-to-date information about the event, directions, parking, schedules and artists will be available on the festival’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HVChalkFestival, on Twitter @HVChalkFestival and on its website at www.hudsonvalleychalkfestival.com